Chapter 8
Raven’s POV
"Darling, do you recall the time I-," The King abruptly stopped talking as we stepped back into the room. Cassius followed us with a burning gaze while we walked around the table.
"Well I hope you're feeling better, my dear." The Queen said, her caramel brown eyes softened as I sat back down in my chair.
"Yes, Milady. Just a slight headache." I spoke up allowing my voice to seem stronger than I felt.
Her smile met her eyes and she turned her head slightly to look at me, something clouded her eyes before she cleared her throat.
"Did your mother and father teach the two of you how to read and write? We don't usually see commoners with such impecible communication skills, especially one with such manners."
Her words did nothing but encourage my undying anger towards them.
"I don't suppose you've had any commoners in this castle besides the two of us to be so sure of that, correct?" I tried to keep my voice even and calm when a knee collided with mine under the table. My eyes snapped towards Cassius and he sent a smile towards the Queen.
"What she means to say is yes, our parents taught us to read and write." He sent me a look saying 'calm it down'.
"Ah, and where are they now?" I felt the shift in the conversation at the question from the Queen. I began to fidget in my seat, not willing to answer and she must've noticed that we both had become very uncomfortable.
"I don't mean to pry, I just want to get to know the two of you. Such bright children you both are." She smiled and I caught a scoffed to my right. My eyes met with the glowing green orbs that I had seen in the arena that day.
"Is there something you want to say, Amelia?"
"Yes mother, you praise these two as if they aren't intruders to our home. She almost killed your own daughter and you're talking to her as if she's a saint!"
"I'm trying to get to know our guests Amelia, I don't think that's a crime." The Queen shrugged and Princess Amelia opened her mouth to speak but was cut off my Prince Rhyland.
"The thought of you dying would bring anyone joy at this table Amelia, don't flatter Raven with hatred when we've all considered it."
I stiffled a laugh and I spotted Cassius trying to do the sameout of the corner of my eyes. She gasped dramatically and stood from the table, sending a screeching sound throughout the room.
"Rhyland, that is no way to speak to your sister." The Queen said but he just relaxed back into his chair.
"I was just speaking my mind, mother. Now, if you'll excuse me." He said before standing up, his figure stood another foot taller than Princess Amelia and their eyes clashed together in a silent battle. I found myself wondering what could have happened between the two that could cause such hatred.
"Since everyone is leaving, why don't we just cancel this dinner and get food sent up to everyone's rooms?" The Queen asked and the King huffed in agreement. The happiness I felt with the satisfactory that this is over took over and I glanced over to see Cassius had the same look of relief.
My eyes glanced over to the younger Prince who had been deathly silent the entire night. His dark hair was ruffled over his eyes so that the color stayed anonymous.
"Thank you for this evening." Cassius spoke up and bowed towards the two. We both stood and walked up the stairs we had come from and our footsteps were slightly quicker than our normal pace.
Cassius and I both went straight to my door, I pushed it open to find the fireplace lit.
"How'd your alone time with the Prince go?" His eyebrow raised as he stepped deeper in the room, I pulled off both heels before replying.
"Embarrasing really."
"How?" He asked and I just shook my head.
"I'd rather not relive those moments." I pulled down the bun in my hair and started unraveling the braids, taking no notice in his worried expression.
"I have a bad feeling about these 'friends' the King mentioned."
I walked over to the closet and pulled some shorts and a long shirt out.
"I do too, maybe tomorrow I can get the run down on who exactly is coming and what we should expect." I said and Cassius nodded.
"Just be careful and watch your back. You don't know what the Prince is capable of." He reminded me and he was right, we knew nothing of these people only that they were ruthless and careless.
"Goodnight Raven." He pulled me into a hug and I gripped him tightly before pulling away.
"Goodnight Cassius."
He stepped across the room and through the door, closing it gently behind him. I knew he was worried, it was written all over his face before he left.
After I heard his door shut to his room I walked towards the bathroom with my night clothes in hand, ready to shed this dress. I grabbed a towel off of the rack they sat on and turned the water to the shower on hot.
More like, skin sizzling shower. If it isn't hot as hell I don't want in it.
I drop the dress to the floor and hop in as soon as the water is the right temperature.
A knock on the door made me stir around in the bed, the heavy comforter pressing against my body snuggily. I didn't move a muscle as the door creaked open and the sound of soft footsteps entered the room because I knew right off that it was Eladia.
"Ms Raven.."
"Eladia, I consider you as a friendso you don't have to call me 'Ms'."
I looked over at her from the bed and noticed her saddened face and it caught me off guard right away.
"Hey what's wrong? Are you okay?" I ask sitting up, she shook her head lightly and crossed her petite arms over her chest.
"It's nothing, just a rough day." She sent me a weak smile and I found myself whipping the cover off of me. My barefeet hit the cold floors as I mademy way over to her and pulled her into a tight hug.
"You know, my mother always said everyone is thrown rough days in life so that we can appreciate the good ones given to us."
She pulled back and looked up at me, her eyes glossing over in fear.
"I overheard the King speaking to Princess Amelia.. One of the few people arriving today is Princess Jasmine."
My eyebrows furrowed together at her words as I push my loose strands out of my face.
"Who is that?"
"She's... excuse my language, but she's a narcassistic bitch who gets her way with anything."
A small smile tugged it's way onto my lips as she fiddled with her fingers, surprised by her own outburst. She had a lot of trust in me and from the way it sounded, this Jasmine girl wasn't her favorite person to be around.
"What did she do to make you dislike her so much?"
"She's the reason my mother was executed."
My mouth dropped down and my blood began to boil.
"I- I'm so sorry."I muttered and she just shook her head.
"It was forever ago. But she still walks these very halls like she doesn't have blood on her hands, as if she's a saint." She spat the words and I seen pure hatred in her bright blue eyes.
"The King is assigning me to her for her stay and you'll be assigned a temporary maid for the time being. He always assignes royal families the maids that have been here longer so a mistake is rarely made, making him look perfect."
My eyes widened and I shook my head.
"Hell no. There's no way I'm letting you be her maid after what you just told me. That torture to have to look her in the eyes knowing she's the reason your mother is dead, I'll talk to the King-,"
"No, please don't. I've said too much already.."
I took a deep breath and nodded.
"The Prince is awaiting your presence in the training fields." She left without another word and I took that as a note to get ready.
After stumbling around the outside of the castle I had finally found the training grounds. Eladia hadn't led me here today but I couldn't blame her for not wanting to be around anyone at the moment.
"Ah, took you long enough." Prince Rhyland joked, his bright smile making me grimace.
"I would've been here earlier if your father hadn't taken Ela- my personal maid for someone else." I said, stepping up to the platform he was standing on.
His face twisted in confusion as he looked at me.
"I'll see to it that your maid is returned to you then." I shook my head at his words.
"He is a frightening man, one she does not want to anger so I'll adjust to the temporary one when she arrives. No need for the extra hassle." His deep stormy eyes looked over my facial expression before nodding and clearing his throat.
"So how do we star-,"
A gust of wind shot towards him and he dodged it instantly. I watched intently but the didn't use a drop of magic like I was hoping.
"What was that?"
"That was my attempt to figure out your power but that's not your go-to like normal power wielders."
A devilishly handsome smirk crossed his red lips as his eyes stared into mine. The pure depth of purple swirls drew my attention in and I couldn't help myself as I walked towards him.
A breath left my chest and I found him taking large steps towards me, his hand easing around my waist and slipping to my back. The movement sending tingles radiating through the area he was touching and the warmth of his palm made me relax into his hand.
All without taking his eyes off of mine.
His face leaned down towards mine and swept past my cheek to my ear. The feeling of nearness sent my stomach in tumbling knots as his lips skimmed over my ear softly.
"I can make anyone do whatever I want, call it hynotizing or entranced, or even the devil's work."
As he pulled away I felt a wave of water splash over me and reality came crashing down. I backed away from him instantly , his smirk never faultering.
"You- You,"
"You asked what my power was so I showed you." He stated simply and I just stood in complete shock.
"I- How am I suppose to teach you the ways of a BlueBlood if you don't even possess an element to wield? And you could've simple just told me your power instead of hypnotizing me into some weird steamy trance like thing!"
His smile widened at my words and I feel my face heat up.
"You see, I can do regular hypnosis but with you.. I didn't have to put any thoughts inside your head because they were already there."